Executive Director at South Mountain Christian Camp in Bostic, NC reflects on life at Camp and how the ministry makes an impact through Summer Camp, Weekend Retreats, Outdoor Environmental Education, and Challenge Course programs.

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Thursday, March 24, 2011

I never knew it was there. It was my son who first noticed it. When I mentioned that I was having back pain last month, he volunteered to massage the area. Before he even got started, however, I heard him exclaim, “Dad there’s a huge lump on the back of your neck!” He was right. A visit to my medical practitioner, followed by an ultrasound, led to the removal of a benign fatty tumor called a lipoma.

Now I’ve got this new scar on the back of my neck. Most of the time, I don’t think about it. In fact, I often forget that it’s there. But, on occasion, I’ll do something that puts extra pressure on the still-sensitive area. Those moments bring an instant, painful reminder that just a few weeks ago my flesh was cut open and a chunk of tissue was removed from my body—not exactly a pleasant experience.

The entire occurrence actually causes me to reflect on some of our summer campers. Many of them come to Camp happy, content, and cheerful until something happens that elicits a negative or aggressive response. This is because many of them carry deep emotional scars that, like the physical scar on my neck, are still sensitive. When pressure is put on these painful areas of their souls, that sensitivity brings an instant, painful reminder of what they have suffered through.

Fortunately, when this happens at South Mountain, we see it as an opportunity to minister to their needs. A door is opened to help the camper see their need for spiritual healing. That’s when Jesus comes in and heals not only the wound, but the scar as well. Only our Savior can do that.

They’re coming again this summer. Almost 600 campers will spend a week at South Mountain Christian Camp this summer. We’re working hard to make sure all the logistics are taken care of so that these campers can experience God while they’re here. You can play a big part in that process with your support. By providing a full or partial scholarship for an economically disadvantaged child, you can help set up an encounter with Jesus.